Covid-19 Spread Prevention System on Campus based on Student

Population Monitoring

Rachmad Imbang Tritjahjono

, Moch Bilal Zaenal Asyikin

, Noor Cholis Basjaruddin

and Andriyanto Setyawan

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Politeknik Negeri Bandung, Bandung, Indonesia

Department of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, and Energy Engineering, National Chin-Yi University of Technology,

Taichung, Taiwan

Department of Electrical Engineering, Politeknik Negeri Bandung, Bandung, Indonesia

Department of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineering, Politeknik Negeri Bandung, Bandung, Indonesia

Keywords: Monitoring, Base64, MQTT, HTTP.

Abstract: Various efforts have been made by the government in controlling the spread of covid-19, such as social

restrictions of various scales, restrictions on community activities, social assistance, to vaccination. One of

the sectors affected is education. This research aims to create a system to prevent the spread of virus covid-

19 from monitoring the number of student populations on campus. Thus, phisical teaching can still be

implemented. Every student who will access the campus area must scan the QR code on the mobile

application. Algorithms are designed to access QR codes based on course schedules and based on permission.

The system is also equipped with sanctions features for students late in or out of campus area. All section

systems, namely mobile applications, scanners, virtual servers and web platforms, are successfully created

according to the designed algorithm. The web platform can display the student population on campus in real-

time. In addition, base64 encryption is used to secure the converted data in QR codes.

1 INTRODUCTION

The covid-19 pandemic is a primary concern that is

being resolved around the world. The number of

deaths worldwide reached more than two million

(WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

Dashboard, 2021). Indonesia became one of the

countries with a very high number of cases reaching

more than one million people with the number of

deaths of more than 32 thousand people (World

Health Organization, 2021). The covid-19 virus can

spread from an infected person's mouth or nose in the

form of tiny particles (aerosols) when they cough,

sneeze or talk. A person can contract this virus if the

aerosol enters his mouth or nose (Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention, 2020). In preventing the

spread of the covid-19 virus, the Indonesian

government has done various ways both at the central

level and at the regional level, such as closing access

to arrivals and departures to and from abroad (Satuan

Tugas Penanganan Covid-19, 2020), the imposition

of large-scale social restrictions (Kementerian

Sekretariat Negara Republik Indonesia, 2020), to the

enactment of restrictions on micro-based community

activities (Menteri Dalam Negeri, 2021). Many

sectors are affected by this policy. One of them is

teaching and learning activities of various levels of

education that have to be temporarily diverted online.

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and

Technology had announced that there would be a

return to in physical teaching. However, the plan was

delayed after the covid-19 delta variant spread and

became a significant focus for the current

government. In the face of a situation that continues

to develop dynamically, various efforts continue to be

made by multiple parties to innovate in offering

solutions to diverse problems. In this research,

innovation was carried out by creating a system to

monitor the student population on campus. This

research aims to succeed in management policies in

limiting or controlling the number of daily students

on campus to prevent the spread of covid-19. By

preparing the system, it is expected to be still able to

control the spread of covid-19 when phisical teaching

begins to be implemented.

Tritjahjono, R., Asyikin, M., Basjaruddin, N. and Setyawan, A.

Covid-19 Spread Prevention System on Campus based on Student Population Monitoring.

DOI: 10.5220/0010956100003260

In Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Applied Science and Technology on Engineering Science (iCAST-ES 2021), pages 889-895

ISBN: 978-989-758-615-6; ISSN: 2975-8246

 2023 by SCITEPRESS – Science and Technology Publications, Lda. Under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

889

2 LITERATURE REVIEW

Research on student population monitoring systems

on campus includes engineering in terms of both

hardware and software. The use of minicomputers

and quick response (QR) readers from the hardware

side and encryption algorithms and QR codes from

the software side becomes one of the support in

running the system.

2.1 QR Code

This research will use QR code as student access in

and out of campus. QR code is a type of two-

dimensional symbol developed by Denso Wave in

1994. QR stands for “Quick Response”, indicating

that the code contents should be decoded very quickly

at high speed (Tiwari, 2016). Compared with 1-D

Codes, 2- D Codes can hold more data in a smaller

space. In Bar Codes, information is coded in one

direction or one dimension only (Saranya, Reminaa,

& Subhitsha, 2016). Table 1 shows the

comparative study of QR code and Bar code. The QR

code structure can be seen in

Figure 1

. Each QR code

symbol is arranged in a square shape and consists of

function patterns and encoding regions. A quiet zone

boundary surrounds the entire symbol on all four

sides. There are four types of function patterns,

including finder patterns, separators, timing patterns,

and alignment patterns. The encoding region contains

data representing version information, information

format, and error correction (Priyambodo,

Novamizanti, & Usman, 2020).

Table 1: Comparison of QR code and barcode (Tiwari,

2016).

Features QR Code Bar Code

High

acit

Upto 7089 numeric

its

10-20 digits

Durability

against

damage

Reading is possible

(upto 30% damaged)

Reading is

impossible

Reduced

Space

40 digits numeric

10 digits

numeric

360°

Supports 360°

reading

Horizontal

reading

Language

orte

Numeric,Alphanum

eric,Kan

i,Kana etc

Numeric,Alph

anumeric

Figure 1: QR code structure (Priyambodo, Novamizanti, &

Usman, 2020).

QR code will be built on the android application

that every student must enter the campus area. The

QR reader device is used to read QR codes in mobile

applications.

2.2 Base64 Encryption Algorithm

Real-time monitoring systems involve the use of

information between the user and the system.

Information encryption technology can meet the

security requirements of confidentiality of the

information and avoid the leakage of critical

information security threats. Therefore, encryption

technology is the base of authentication technology

and other security technology, and it is also the core

technology of information security (Yu, Wang, &

Wang, 2012). The base64 algorithm is used for

encoding and decoding data before it becomes a QR

code. The base 64 algorithm works to convert data

into an ASCII format based on the base number 64.

The resulting character in this base64 transformation

consists of A. Z, a. z and 0..9, plus the symbols "+"

and "/" and one character equal to (=) in the last two

characters used for pad charging or in other words

adjusting and completing binary data. The character

of the symbol to be generated will depend on the

process of the algorithm running. The stage in convert

a string with base64 algorithm are as follows (Yu,

Wang, & Wang, 2012):

• Break the bytes string to 3 bytes.

• Combine 3 bytes into 24 bits. with a record of 1

bytes = 8 bits, so 3 x 8 = 24 bits.

• Then 24 bits stored in-buffer (put together)

devided into 6 bits, and it will produce four

fractions

• Each fraction is converted into a decimal value,

where the maximum value of 6 bits is 63.

• Finally, make the decimal values into an index to

choose

And so on until the end of the bytes string that will

undergo conversion. If there is a remaining divider in

the encoding process, then add the character pad (=)

iCAST-ES 2021 - International Conference on Applied Science and Technology on Engineering Science

890

as the remaining sucker. Therefore, sometimes at

base64 will appear one or two characters (=). Base64

table index can be seen in Table 2.

Table 2: Base64 index table (Wen & Dang, 2018).

Val Char Val Char Val Char

Val Char

0 A

1 B

2 C

3 D

4 E

5 F

6 G

7 H

8 I

9 J

10 K

11 L

12 M

13 N

14 O

15 P

16 Q

17 R

18 S

19 T

20 U

21 V

22 W

23 X

24 Y

25 Z

26 a

27 b

28 c

29 d

30 e

31 f

32 g

33 h

34 i

35 j

36 k

37 l

38 m

39 n

40 o

41 p

42 q

43 r

44 s

45 t

46 u

47 v

48 w

49 x

50 y

51 z

52 0

53 1

54 2

55 3

56 4

57 5

58 6

59 7

60 8

61 9

62 +

63 /

2.3 Message Queuing Telemetry

Transport (MQTT)

MQTT was invented by Andy Standford-Clark and

Arlen Nipper. The communication model used is

publish and subscribe and provide quality of service

(QoS) support. The publish mechanism is usually

used to send the data to the broker and the subscribe

mechanism is used to get the data from the broker

(Vyas, Rudani, & Student, 2018). The MQTT

structure can be seen in

Figure 2. With QoS, the

MQTT protocol can ensure higher delivery

capabilities than HTTP. There are three levels of QoS

(Shinde, Nimkar, Singh, Salpe, & Jadhav, 2016):

• QoS – 1 (at most once): guarantees the best

delivery efforts.

• QoS – 2 (at least once): Messages are sent at

least once, but it could be more.

• QoS – 3 (exactly once): guarantees that a

message sent is received once.

Publisher Broker Subscriber

(Source)

(Public

Server)

(Sink)

connect

connect Ack

connect

Connect Ack

Subscribe (topic)

Subscribe Ack

Publish (topic, data)

Figure 2: MQTT structure (manmeetjuneja5, 2020).

2.4 Hyper Text Transfer Protocol

(HTTP)

HTTP was initially designed as a protocol for web

browsing (Jin & Choi, 2012). HTTP is used by the

world wide web (www) to determine how its

messages will be sent and formatted. HTTP

formulates the specifications for messaging between

Web servers and clients. Since 1990, HTTP has been

in usage by the Worldwide Web global information

initiative (Huang, Xia, Sun, & Xue, 2015). This

protocol is responsible for the actions that servers

must take when sending information over the

network. When the URL is being entered into the

browser, this protocol sends an HTTP request to the

server, and then the HTTP response is sent back to the

browser. The protocol is also responsible for

controlling web pages on the World Wide Web to

format and represent data. The HTTP structure can be

seen in

Figure 3.

HTTP Client HTTP Client

HTTP Request

Message

HTTP Response

Message

Figure 3: HTTP structure (manmeetjuneja5, 2020).

3 SYSTEM DESIGN

3.1 Block Diagram

The system is designed to limit the number of

students in the campus area. The designed system

consists of several builder components: mobile

applications, scanners, virtual servers, and web

Covid-19 Spread Prevention System on Campus based on Student Population Monitoring

891

platforms. The block diagram of the system can be

seen in Figure 4 below.

Database

QR Code

HTTP Client

Notification

Mobile Application

HTTP Client

Scanner

MQTT

QR Scanner

Internet

Virtual Server

Server

API

MQTT

Broker

Web Platform

HTTP

Scanning

Figure 4: Block diagram system.

The Mobile Application block consists of an

HTTP client that plays a role in retrieving or

requesting data from the server using the http

protocol. Furthermore, a QR code is an image

generated by the mobile application to be scanned by

the QR code scanner in the scanner block section. The

scanner section consists of a QR Code Scanner to

scan the QR code of the mobile application to be

processed by the Mini PC and then verified to the

virtual server by making http requests through the

Internet Provider. A virtual server section is a

component that governs all needs. This block consists

of servers that play a role in capturing requests from

other sections, processing data to the database,

integrating requests with APIs and providing

responses to requests received. A web platform

section is a block that runs on a computer or mobile

device to view the combined data of all sections with

the role of administrator.

3.2 System Algorithm

System algorithm is designed in such a way as to

accommodate the needs of students greeting the

campus area but still meet the goals to be achieved.

There are 5 types of users in the system as a whole

with their respective functions. The following Table

3 is an explanation of each user.

Table 3: Users role.

No User Descri

tion

Administrator

The administrator of the

entire management syste

2 Head of

artment

Permit applicant verifier

3 Head of Study

Pro

ram

Permit applicant verifier

4 Department

Technician

Sanction verifier

5 Student Target use

Each student can access the campus area in only

two conditions, when there is a schedule of courses

and if they have urgent needs. The system algorithm

for the first condition can be seen in

Figure 5.

Mobile

Application

Scanner Virtual Server Web Platform

Users

registration

Save on

databse

Get user login

through email

User

verification

Show user

informations

Get QR code

through course

schedule

Scan the QR

code

User verification

Update the

information

data

Update the

database

Start

Finish

Show user

informations

Update the

information

data

User

verification

Figure 5: An algorithm based on courses schedule.

Each student will be registered by the user

administrator and get an account to log in to the

mobile application via email. Based on Fig. 6 above,

the system algorithm generally describes the system's

flow in each section. In addition, there will be a

notification in each mobile application every 15

minutes before the beginning of the course as a

reminder to every registered student user. Notices

will also appear 15 minutes before the student must

leave the campus area. This reminder system is used

so that every student user can obey all the rules

applied. The following condition system algorithm is

based on permission when students have an urgent

need by applying for approval on the mobile

application. The system algorithm designed for the

second condition can be seen in

Figure 6.

iCAST-ES 2021 - International Conference on Applied Science and Technology on Engineering Science

892

Mobile

Application

Scanner Virtual Server Web Platform

User

verification

Show user

informations

Ask QR code

thr ough

perm ission

Update the

database

Start

Verifier

User

verification

Give

permission

Update the

database

Get QR code

thr ough

perm ission

Scan the QR

code

User verification

Update the

information

data

Update the

database

Finish

Show user

informations

Update the

information

data

Figure 6: An algorithm based on permission.

Students who apply for permission to visit the

campus area will only get a QR code on the mobile

application when the verifier obtains approval. Two

users must permit the applicant, namely:

• Head of the applicant's study program

• Head of the applicant department

In addition, sanctions are also applied to every student

user who is late, either entering the campus area or

leaving the campus area. Sanctions are converted into

sanction points where every minute of delay is

interpreted as one point of sanctions. The sanction

points will appear on the main page of the student user

mobile application. A compensation system is

implemented to pay for the sanctions where students

can submit them to registered technician users. User

technicians will reduce the value of points per

appropriate compensation.

4 RESULT

4.1 Platform

The realization of the design results at this stage has

been done. The creation of a web platform as in

Figure

named MPM - Pollan. The web-based platform has

several features, including :

• Real-time monitoring dashboard

• Users management

• Courses schedule management

• Class management

• Sanction management

Figure 7: Web platform dashboard.

4.2 Scanner

Student access using QR code makes it easier for

security to conduct supervision. The scanner

dashboard can be seen in

Figure 8

. The application is a local web-based

platform that will be installed on a mini PC and

installed on the entrance and exit gates of the campus.

Figure 8: Scanner dashboard.

4.3 Mobile Application

Students obtain access in and out of campus through

the android application, as in

Figure 9

. Features

contained in the android application include the

following.

• User management

• Course information

• QR code builder with base64 data

encryption

• Notification

• Sanction information

• Permission form

Covid-19 Spread Prevention System on Campus based on Student Population Monitoring

893

Figure 9: Mobile application.

4.4 Overall Testing

The overall testing is done by integrating the entire

system section. Testing is also done on the algorithm

based on the course schedule and based on

permission. The overall test results can be seen in

Table 4

below. All the commands that are parameters

in the test work well.

Table 4: Overall function testing.

Command Worked Output

User Account

Registration

User account is added to the

database, and email account

information is sent to the

user.

User Account

Display the main page of the

application.

Notification

Generate notifications on

smartphones that have been

logged in in the mobile

application. Notifications

appear 15 minutes before the

initial course schedule and

15 minutes before the user

has to leave campus area.

QR code

based on

course

schedule

QR code access appears if

the user has a course

schedule. The mobile

application can display QR

codes.

Ask QR based

on permission

QR code access appears when

the verifie

gives permission.

Scan QR code

QR readers can read QR codes

from the mobile application.

Scanner UI

User information can be

displayed on a web-based

dashboard scanner.

Sanction

Sanction points appear on each

user's mobile application page.

User technicians can reduce

the value of points through the

web platform.

Realtime

monitoring

User status, sanction points,

and the number of student

populations on campus can

be displayed on the

dashboard of the web

platform in real-time.

5 CONCLUSIONS

The system of monitoring the student population to

prevent the covid-19 from spreading has been

successfully developed. All sections systems, namely

mobile applications, scanners, virtual servers and web

platforms, are successfully created according to the

designed algorithm. The Web Platform can display

the student population on campus in real-time. In

addition, base64 encryption is used to secure the

converted data in QR codes.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors would like to thank Pusat Penelitian dan

Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat Politeknik Negeri

Bandung for financial support with contract number

B/76.3/PL1.R7/PG.00.03/2021.

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